Rep. Esty criticized for off-record meetings

1/30/13 4:21 PM EST

Rep. Elizabeth Esty is facing criticism this week for holding closed, off-the-record meetings with public officials, according to reports.

The Connecticut Democrat has hosted several local meetings with city officials and others in her district this week to discuss the Newtown school shooting, but has asked the press to consider all comments from the meetings off the record and not for publication, several local newspapers reported. Esty — the newly sworn-in congresswoman whose district includes Newtown — told the Torrington-based Register Citizen that she will hold open meetings at another point, but for now the meetings are closed and off the record “to get the most candid sharing.”

“We will be having many open meetings but these initial ones are designed to get the most candid sharing and then take that forward for those who do want to appear on the record,” she told the Register Citizen on Monday.

The Record-Journal of Meriden, Connecticut reported on Tuesday that the paper “declined an invitation to attend tonight’s meeting because it was offered on the condition that all comments be considered ‘off the record’ and not be printed.” The paper also noted that Waterbury’s newspaper, the Republican American, did not cover one of Esty’s meetings because of the closed-door format.

The Record-Journal added that the meetings in question likely included city and state officials and community members such as first responders, clergy, teachers, sportsmen and mental health professionals.

Esty's spokesperson Jeb Fain told the Record-Journal the meetings are closed because "we want people to feel comfortable having a frank discussion with her."

Esty’s office has not responded to request for comment from POLITICO.

UPDATE (4:35 p.m.):

Reporter Dan Brechlin of The Record-Journal writes in to say he met with Esty this morning and asked her about the closed meetings:

Esty and her staff remained firm on their stance that this was the best way to go about their meetings with public officials, clergy members, parents, gun owners and sportsmen, etc. She basically told me that she did not want anybody to feel like they were in a public meeting or at a press conference and wanted them to feel comfortable as people continue to formulate opinions and ideas on gun violence prevention. ...

She will be back in Meriden tonight for the meeting and we will not be in attendance because the terms continue to be an "off the record" conversation. We are disappointed that they insisted on keeping it this way as so many hearings and meetings are taking place across the state and the country in a very public format. Obviously it's a national debate on a controversial matter and the public is very much involved into whatever decisions are made.